If there’s one name throughout history that is most recognizable in the game of football, it has to be Vince Lombardi.

The winner of the Super Bowl — consistently the most-watched television event of the year in this country — hoists the Lombardi Trophy, named in honor of arguably the greatest coach ever in American sports.

Lombardi’s roots trace right here to the Diocese of Brooklyn. In fact, it was these roots that led to a local Catholic High School Football League (CHSFL) team recently enjoying the experience of a lifetime.

The St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows, varsity football team competed Sept. 5 in the annual high school football showcase games at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio — the site of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Terriers were among six teams selected, with the other five all hailing from Ohio.

These games have been played in the past, yet this year was the first time schools were chosen based on a Pro Football Hall of Fame alum. Lombardi graduated St. Francis Prep in 1933 before starring on the gridiron at Fordham University, the Bronx.

“That was all they needed to hear,” said longtime Terriers head varsity football coach Rich Carroll. “Obviously having someone like Vince Lombardi as alum sealed the deal.”

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Lombardi grew up in Sheepshead Bay and was an altar boy at St. Mark’s Church. Coming from a devout Catholic family, he initially entered Cathedral Prep Seminary back when it was in Brooklyn with thoughts that he would become a priest.

After four years, he changed course and enrolled in St. Francis Prep — when it was also in Brooklyn — in the fall of 1932. Given that he already had four years of high school under his belt, he only played one season of football there as a fullback and earned All-City honors.

Of course, he went on to coach the Green Bay Packers, who captured five NFL championships in a seven-year period. He also led the Packers to victories in the first two Super Bowls in the mid-1960s. He was inducted posthumously into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971. As an NFL head coach, he never had a losing season.

The current Terriers were filled with pride to represent the Lombardi name in Canton. Following a nine-hour bus ride, the team enjoyed a packed schedule of memorable events.

“It is probably one of the coolest things to think about,” said Matthew Monahan, a senior linebacker and team captain. “We had the opportunity to play in that game because Vince Lombardi went here. This school has given me so much, so it really feels great to play for the school and for the Lombardi name too.”

First, the team practiced in a professional bubble facility to gear up for their game. They then headed to the Hall of Fame for a tour while taking some extra time at the Lombardi exhibits. While there, they were surprised to meet Hall of Famer Dave Robinson, a linebacker who played the bulk of his career in Green Bay with Lombardi as his coach.

The Terriers then headed to the Canton Fire Department for a special 9/11 tribute event. The team presented the firefighters with a jersey bearing the name of Timothy Stackpole, a 1977 St. Francis Prep graduate and former football player who died in the attacks.

Finally, it was time for the High School Football Classic. The Terriers squared off against Stow-Munroe Falls H.S. from Ohio. Their Hall of Fame alum is Larry Czonka, the well-known fullback from the Miami Dolphins who was a two-time Super Bowl champ, including the perfect 17-0 season of 1972.

The game itself was a tough one, with St. Francis falling 31-6. However, it was the type of game and atmosphere that a program can build upon as the regular season CHSFL schedule began.

“When you’re playing a game in that kind of a setting, there’s a lot of distractions,” Carroll said. “It’s very tough for young men to navigate sometimes. We really feel like that was a good setting for our guys right out of the box early in the season to be put in that position, to focus on the task at hand, and play the game.”

Overall, the student-athletes and coaches from St. Francis Prep will never forget this trip and what it meant for the school’s football history. To have one of the greats tied to the Prep is so unique.

“I feel very lucky,” said senior running back and safety Roderick “RJ” Fordham Jr., also a team captain. “It’s an honor to represent the program in Lombardi’s name. One day, we all want to make it to the top. We want to raise that trophy at the end and say we did it.”

Whether it’s actually raising the Lombardi Trophy or simply being the best they can be in whatever career path they choose, these Terriers are poised to strive for excellence as they dedicate themselves to their craft — just like Lombardi did.